Bill Haney has raised the stakes dramatically for the upcoming bout between his son, WBC super lightweight champion Devin Haney, and long-time rival Ryan Garcia, scheduled for Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The pre-fight buildup, marked by intense animosity, escalated during a face-to-face encounter in Manhattan where Bill Haney issued a chilling directive to his son, instructing him to “kill” Garcia in the ring.
The rivalry, which saw both fighters face off six times in their amateur careers with three wins each, has not fostered respect but rather a deepening disdain. This has been further fueled by contentious interactions and accusations from both camps, with Garcia’s erratic behavior and provocative social media use since the fight announcement adding to the concerns about his mental well-being.
At a charged meeting at the Empire State Building, attended by the Haney entourage and Garcia’s family, Bill Haney did not mince words. He publicly declared his intent for a brutal victory, stating, “You disrespect the country; you disrespect the people; you disrespect a religion – you will be sentenced, and I’m sending my son to go kill him. It’s gonna be an annihilation.”
Watch The Definitive History Of Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney’s Beef: Watch
Repeating his severe stance in the presence of Garcia’s mother, Lisa, who arrived during the tirade, Bill Haney continued, “Mrs. Garcia, you can’t stop it now. It got real.” He predicted a catastrophic end for Garcia in the fight, intensifying the already volatile atmosphere surrounding this high-profile matchup.
This provocative rhetoric has not only intensified the anticipation for the fight but also raised questions about the boundaries of promotional speech in boxing. Bill Haney’s stark expressions, reminiscent of Ivan Drago’s infamous line from Rocky IV, underscore the fierce, sometimes perilous nature of the sport.
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